When you leave for New York, bring clothes for all weather to be sure.
Bring warm clothes to the start. It MAY be cold and windy. You must discard it before the start. It will be collected and given to charity.
Bring something to sit on to the start. It can be a newspaper, a magazine etc. The ground can be cold and wet.
If it's raining or recently has been raining, bring some plastic bags to wear outside your shoes before start. It's mostly grass and it can me muddy in wet weather. It's even better if you have a pair of old running shoes that you don't use any more. Use them until you enter the corral, then change to your running shoes and leave the old ones behind.
Bring toilet paper to the start area. They have about 1,700 portable toilets, but sometimes they run out of paper temporarily before they can refill.
Don't do a lot of walking around sightseeing the last couple of days before the Marathon. It can be very hard on your legs. I have experienced it myself in 1978 waking up the night before the Marathon with cramps :)
NYCM has a list of prohibited items. Some of them may be items that you are used to train with. So, please, read the list so you know what is not allowed during the race. Here is the list:
Hydration backpack/vest with bladder or water reservoir (if your vest allows for both water bottles and a bladder/water reservoir, you are only able to use bottles and they must be in the front pockets of the vest). Fuel belts, hydration vests with bottles in the front, and hand-held water bottles are allowed. All water bottles must be 1 liter or smaller.
Containers of liquid larger than one liter
Portable speakers are banned at our events. Do not run with a speaker during a race as the amplified noise may diminish the race experience for other runners.
Backpacks, suitcases, rolling bags, or any other similar bags other than the official NYRR clear bag check bag
Weight vests and any vests with multiple pockets, especially those that can be used as a water reservoir
Selfie-sticks and any camera mount or rig that isn’t attached directly to the head or torso
Opaque trash bags and any non-transparent plastic bags (Clear trash bags are allowed.)
Cigarettes, vaping devices, other electronic smoking devices, tobacco products, and marijuana products
Strollers
Costumes that cover the face and any bulky outfits that extend beyond the perimeter of the body (Form-fitting outfits are allowed)
Props, including flag poles, sporting equipment, military and fire gear, and signs larger than 11”x17”
A weapon of any kind, including firearms, knives, Mace, etc.
Dangerous items or “dual-use” items that could be considered dangerous, including hammers, saws, sharp objects, umbrellas, poles, sticks, etc.
Flammable liquids, aerosols, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
Large packages, coolers, tents, and lean-tos
Duvets, sleeping bags, and large blankets or comforters
Alcoholic beverages and illegal substances of any kind
Unmanned aerial devices, drones, survey balloons, photography mini-copters, and any flying device with an on/off switch
Animals or pets (If you are a person with a disability, please contact nyrrawdteam@nyrr.org)
Folding chairs, camp chairs, and tables of any kind
Glass containers
Chemical compounds, or biological agents that could be considered toxic
Total hits to my NYCM site since 04/28/2008:
Where are the visitors coming from? (Since 03/25/2018)
